News

Wisconsin crops hanging on after scattered showers

Wisconsin crops remain dry as corn and soybeans enter critical growth stages.

USDA statistician Greg Bussler says topsoil moisture statewide is rated 29% very short, 42% short, 29% adequate and there are no reports of excess moisture.  Subsoil moisture levels are also very low.

Despite the dry weather, there were some scattered light showers around Wisconsin last week which helped the corn condition improve by one point to 45% good to excellent.  The driest region is in central Wisconsin, and there were reports of up to two inches of rain southwest of Madison and between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities.

Twenty-two percent of the soybeans have bloomed, around four days behind average.  Forty-two percent of the soybeans are reported in good to excellent shape, two percent better than a week ago.

Eighty-six percent of the oats have headed and 48% of the crop is coloring.

Eighty-two percent of Wisconsin’s winter wheat is coloring, with 58% of the crop reported in good to excellent condition, down 1% from last week.

The second cutting of alfalfa is 69% finished, about 6 days ahead of average but volumes are down.  Just 41% of all hay is reported as good to excellent because of the dry conditions.